Jameel Gardee joins Payman to reflect on more than three decades in dentistry, from qualifying in Glasgow to undertaking advanced restorative training at Boston University and building a private practice centred on digital dentistry.
He looks back on the people and experiences that shaped his career, why American dentistry changed his outlook, and how his approach to restorative treatment has evolved. The conversation also explores the pressures facing younger dentists, the value of mentorship and why becoming an excellent clinician takes more than technical ability.
Much of the discussion centres on the shift from analogue to digital dentistry. Jameel breaks down the workflows behind modern smile design, from facial scanning and treatment planning to guided preparations, 3D printing and restorative materials. But there's a distinction he keeps coming back to: owning the latest technology means very little if you don't know how to bring it all together.
The conversation also takes a more personal turn as Jameel reflects on difficult patients, clinical mistakes and the emotional weight of complaints. With AI and robotics changing the profession, he considers what the next generation of dentists will need to learn and why human connection may become more valuable than ever.
Expect honest reflections on clinical excellence, digital workflows, patient trust, innovation, mentorship and the changing relationship between technology and the people delivering care.
In This Episode
00:00:50 – From Glasgow to Boston
00:05:05 – American dentistry and clinical philosophy
00:09:05 – Mentorship and younger dentists
00:21:25 – Funding further education
00:24:35 – Private practice and patient trust
00:31:20 – Empowering the dental team
00:34:05 – Discovering digital dentistry
00:38:00 – Workflows over equipment
00:41:25 – The digital first visit
00:44:25 – Facially driven treatment planning
00:51:30 – Mock-ups and smile design
00:53:50 – Guided restorative dentistry
00:57:45 – 3D printing and zirconia
01:04:25 – Research versus clinical experience
01:10:00 – Technology and patient communication
01:16:10 – Robotics and the future
01:21:40 – Blackbox thinking
01:29:15 – Learning and clinical development
01:31:20 – Fantasy dinner party
01:35:45 – Life outside dentistry
About Jameel Gardee
Jameel Gardee is a Glasgow-based dentist and educator known for his work in digital dentistry, aesthetic restorations and smile design. After qualifying from the University of Glasgow in 1995, he undertook advanced restorative and aesthetic training at Boston University.
He has since built a career combining private clinical practice with digital education, helping dentists and their teams adopt modern treatment planning and restorative workflows. Through his work with Avant Garde Dentistry, he continues to champion the use of technology to make complex dentistry more predictable and accessible.
